What Are Landlord Obligations to Tenants in North London? 

Being a landlord can be very financially rewarding but there is a lot more work involved than simply waiting for your tenants’ rent payments to land in your bank account each month. Landlords have more than 170 pieces of legislation to comply with, ranging from gas and electrical safety to deposit protection 

The UK government is looking to introduce more changes in the private rented sector that will provide increased protection to tenants. The new Renters Rights Act received Royal Assent on October 27th 2025, emphasising that landlord responsibilities will be a high priority for the government, with new rules and obligations to be enforced from 1st May 2026. As a result, landlords need to keep up to date with the latest legislation and responsibilities to stay compliant and avoid potential fines and other penalties.  

There are also variations of landlord requirements across different local authorities, so if you are a landlord in areas of north west London such as Kilburn and Queens Park, you may have additional landlord requirements from Brent Council, for example.  

What are the main obligations for landlords?  

While it is important to understand all your responsibilities as a landlord, if you use an estate agent to manage your rental property, they will help you to stay on top of the many legal requirements.   

These are some of the main landlord obligations:  

1. Following health and safety guidelines  

• Fire safety – Landlords must follow fire safety regulations such as ensuring there is access to escape routes at all times. Any furniture supplied by the landlord should be fire safe and for large HMOs, there are additional fire safety requirements, such as providing fire extinguishers.  
• Gas and electrical safety – Gas safety regulations for landlords include arranging for an annual gas safety check, which must be completed by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. A gas safety certificate must be issued and a copy provided to the tenant. It is also the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances, pipework, chimneys and flues are in kept in safe condition.  
• Electrical safety regulations – These require landlords to have electrical installations tested every five years and a copy of a valid EICR (electrical installation condition report) should be provided to the tenant. The landlord is also responsible for ensuring that the electrical system is safe, and any appliances provided are safe to use.  
• Smoke and carbon monoxide safety – New regulations were introduced in 2022 for smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements. Landlords must install at least one smoke alarm on each floor of a property which has rooms for living accommodation. Carbon monoxide alarms should also be installed in rooms where there is a fixed combustion appliance such as a gas boiler or log burner.  
• HHSRS hazard ratings – If a tenant complains about a property issue related to their health and safety, they can request a HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System) assessment. Any identified issues should be dealt with timely, and the requirements for dealing with damp and mould issues are likely to become stricter for private rental landlords under the Renters’ Rights Act.  
• EPC & MEES regulations – Tenants must be provided with a valid EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) that details the energy performance of the property. Landlords must also comply with the MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) regulations. A private rented property must achieve a minimum EPC rating of E. This could be upgraded in future, so landlords need to be prepared for making improvements if their property is lower down on the rating scale.  

2. Maintaining & protecting the property   

It is important that the maintenance responsibilities are clear in the tenancy agreement. For example, maintenance of the garden is commonly the responsibility of the tenant, but this should be stipulated in the agreement. The landlord’s legal responsibilities for maintenance of a rented property, in line with repairing obligations under the 1985 Landlord and Tenant Act, include:  

1. Appliance provision – Landlords are required to maintain the appliances that are provided in their property, unless the tenancy agreement states otherwise. For example, in a property rented on a part-furnished basis, perhaps the landlord agrees to leave a washing machine in the property but stipulates that the tenant is responsible for repairs.  
2. Ongoing maintenance – General repairs and the maintenance of boilers, radiators and sanitary fittings are the responsibility of the landlord. They fall under their utility supplies and heating obligations and requirement to keep the property ‘fit for habitation’.  
3. Structure and exterior maintenance – Maintaining the condition of exterior of the home, such as roof, walls, drainpipes and the structure of the property come under the legal responsibilities of the landlord.  

3. HMO landlord requirements  

There are additional HMO landlord obligations including legal and health and safety requirements. These include fitting fire doors and fire extinguishers, and checking escape routes are kept clear. Most HMO landlords are responsible for council tax and utility bills, so you must ensure these are paid. 

Want to know more? Understanding your responsibilities goes hand in hand with staying compliant — our landlord compliance checklist covers the key boxes to tick, and if you let in Brent, find out whether you need a Brent Council landlord licence.

4. Landlord conduct with tenants  

Be aware of rules around how and when you contact tenants as their ‘right to quiet enjoyment’ of the property is protected under the Human Rights Act 1998. This means you should not disturb them unnecessarily and must follow the rules around entering the property.  

If you require access to the property for maintenance or to carry out an inspection, you are legally required to provide the tenant with 24 hours’ minimum notice. Landlords must also respond within adequate time to any issues flagged by the tenant that could affect their health or safety, such as damp and mould.  

5. Following tenancy guidelines  

There are different rules to follow depending on the type of tenancy. For example, rules vary about when landlords are allowed to raise rent. With regulated tenancies, there is more security for tenants in terms of ending a tenancy and rent cannot be more than the ‘fair rent’.  

HMO licensing  

Landlords of HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation) also need to adhere to licensing requirements set by the local authority. Properties with five or more tenants who are not related, will require an HMO licence and there are rules around minimum room sizes, and there are additional fire safety requirements.  

Selective licensing  

Certain areas operate selective licensing schemes, where landlords need to apply for a licence and meet the criteria required. These areas are typically ones where there are issues with housing conditions, deprivation or high crime levels. The licensing conditions help to ensure that landlords address the issues, such as improving the condition of properties. Explore Brent Council landlord licensing schemes here. 

6. Vetting and onboarding tenants  

Legislation for vetting and onboarding tenants include landlord responsibilities for:  

Right to rent checks  

Landlords are legally required to complete right to rent checks. These involve checking ID documents to confirm that tenants have the right to legally rent property in the UK. These are different to reference checks, where landlords ask for references from tenants to check they will be reliable at paying rent and looking after the property.  

How to rent guide  

Another requirement for landlords to adhere to is providing tenants with a copy of the government’s How to rent guide. Given to tenants at the start of the assured shorthold tenancy (AST), this checklist helps tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities.  

Inventory checks  

Inventories are not a legal requirement for landlords but they are best practice, and can help to avoid disputes about the property condition at the end of the tenancy. If a landlord does not provide an inventory, the tenant can request one. A good inventory includes: 

• A comprehensive list of fixtures and fittings 
• Details of the property and contents’ condition 
• Photos or videos (date-stamped if possible) 

Deposit protection  

Landlords with properties on assured shorthold tenancies must protect their tenancy deposits within 30 days of receiving the deposit. You must protect tenancy deposits in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme, with a choice of three schemes: 

• Tenancy Deposit Scheme 
• MyDeposits 
• Deposit Protection Service 

Want to find out more? From handling late rent payment to navigating repairing obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, there’s plenty more to explore about running a compliant tenancy in north London.

7. Landlord obligations under the Renters’ Rights Act  

Catch up on the Renters’ Rights Act to avoid an unintentional breach of landlord obligations, with new regulations coming into force from spring 2026 onwards. The new rules include: 

• Ban on rent bidding – Landlords won’t be allowed to accept more than the advertised rent for their property. 
• Limits on rent increases – Only one rent rise will be permitted every 12 months. 
• End to Section 21 evictions – Section 21 evictions are being abolished, so evictions will need to follow the Section 8 process instead. 
• Right to request a pet – Tenants will have the legally protected right to request a pet, and only deny it with good reason. 
• New private landlord ombudsman – All landlords will be required to join the new ombudsman when it’s introduced, potentially in late 2026. 
• Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard – These higher health and safety standards will soon apply to private rented properties. Landlords will be expected to fix things within set time limits to eradicate hazards like damp and asbestos. 

Find out more 

These are just some of the many landlord obligations to tenants, and it is essential that landlords adhere to these to protect their tenants, and to avoid penalties. Portland Estate Agents provide comprehensive property management and maintenance services, taking care of landlord obligations on your behalf.  

Contact us to find out more about how we can help with the management of your property portfolio in north London areas such as Cricklewood and Kensal Rise, from finding tenants to complying with all the regulations.